Heroin 'had role' in Peaches death

The husband of Peaches Geldof found her slumped dead on a bed at their family home after she had recently taken heroin, an inquest has heard.

The 25-year-old had one leg hanging down to the floor and the other tucked underneath her in a spare bedroom in Wrotham, Kent, on April 7.

At the opening of her inquest in Gravesend, Detective Chief Inspector Paul Fotheringham said recent heroin use "was likely to have played a role" in her death.

It marks a parallel to the death of her mother, TV presenter and writer Paula Yates, who died from an accidental heroin overdose at her London home aged 41 in 2000.

Mr Fotheringham described the unsuccessful efforts her husband, musician Tom Cohen, made to contact his wife before he found her body.

Four days before she was discovered, Tom went with the couple's two sons, Astala, 23 months, and 11-month-old Phaedra, to his parents' south-east London home.

Mr Fotheringham said this was a normal arrangement so that he and TV presenter and columnist Peaches could concentrate on their work.

During their time apart, Peaches remained at home in Wrotham and in contact with friends and family, appearing to be her normal self.

Mr Fotheringham said: "On Thursday April 3, 2014, Thomas Cohen went with his two sons to stay for the weekend at his parents' house in south-east London.

"This is a normal occurrence which enables Peaches and Thomas to complete work in their respective careers."

He added: "It is believed that Peaches spent Saturday afternoon (April 5), into the evening, and Sunday morning at her home address alone.

"Throughout this period she maintained telephone contact with family and friends, including contact with Thomas's mother to arrange a family activity, but this was cancelled.

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"Peaches maintained contact with family and friends throughout Sunday and at 5pm Thomas's father Keith Cohen took the youngest child, Phaedra, back to Wrotham and spent half an hour with Peaches before leaving the child with her."

Mr Fotheringham said the last contact with Peaches is believed to have been at 7.45pm on the Sunday when she had a telephone conversation with a friend.

He went on: "All of the friends and family who had contact with Peaches during this period described how she seemed her normal self and was making plans for the future, including a family outing for her sons for the following weekend.

"There was no cause for concern."

Tom tried to contact his wife the following morning without success, Mr Fotheringham added.

He then travelled to the family home in Kent with his mother, Sue, and Astala, arriving at around 1.30pm.

"Thomas entered the property and located Peaches in the spare bedroom," Mr Fotheringham said. It was apparent that she was dead.

"She was located on the edge of the bed with one leg hanging down to the floor and the other leg tucked underneath her. She was slumped across the bed," Mr Fotheringham said.

Tom called out to his mother and Phaedra was found in the property, and the emergency services were called.

Police and paramedics arrived and confirmed she was dead. Kent Police started an investigation but the death was "unexplained with no third party" involvement.

A post-mortem examination carried out by Dr Peter Jerreat at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford was inconclusive.

Further tests confirmed the recent taking of heroin, Mr Fotheringham said. He said: "Recent use of heroin and the levels identified were likely to have played a role in her death."

Mr Hatch adjourned the inquest for a full hearing to take place on July 23.

None of Peaches' family, including her father Bob, were at the hearing, which last around 10 minutes.

At her funeral service in Davington, near Faversham, Peaches' body was carried into church in a poignantly-decorated coffin which included a picture of her young family.

Bob is thought to have led tributes in front of a host of well-known personalities, including the Duchess of York, supermodel Kate Moss and former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman.

The church, St Mary Magdalene and St Lawrence, was where Peaches married musician Tom in 2012.

It was also where her mother married Bob in 1986 and where her funeral service was held.

Former Boomtown Rats singer Bob has previously paid tribute to his daughter alongside his partner, Jeanne Marine, and Peaches' sisters, Fifi Trixibelle, Pixie and Tiger, saying she was the "wildest, funniest, cleverest, wittiest and the most bonkers of all of us".

Recent use of heroin was likely to have played a role in the death of Peaches Geldof, an inquest has heard, in a tragic echo of the death of her mother.

The body of the 25-year-old mother-of-two was found at the home she shared with her young family in Wrotham, Kent, on April 7.

At the opening of her inquest in Gravesend, Detective Chief Inspector Paul Fotheringham, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said a post-mortem examination was inconclusive, prompting further tests.

But he told the hearing: "Recent use of heroin and the levels identified were likely to have played a role in her death."

It marks a parallel to the death of her mother, TV presenter and writer Paula Yates, who died from an accidental heroin overdose at her London home aged 41 in 2000.

Mr Fotheringham spoke of the days and final moments of Peaches - married to musician Tom Cohen - during the brief hearing in front of North West Kent coroner Roger Hatch.

He said: "On Thursday April 3, 2014, Thomas Cohen went with his two sons to stay for the weekend at his parents' house in south-east London.

"This is a normal occurrence which enables Peaches and Thomas to complete work in their respective careers."

He added: "It is believed that Peaches spent Saturday afternoon, into the evening, and Sunday morning at her home address alone.

"Throughout this period she maintained telephone contact with family and friends, including contact with Thomas's mother to arrange a family activity, but this was cancelled.

"Peaches maintained contact with family and friends throughout Sunday and at 5pm Thomas's father Keith Cohen took the youngest child, Phaedra, back to Wrotham and spent half an hour with Peaches before leaving the child with her."

Mr Fotheringham said the last contact with Peaches is believed to have been at 7.45pm on the Sunday when she had a telephone conversation with a friend.

He went on: "All of the friends and family who had contact with Peaches during this period described how she seemed her normal self and was making plans for the future, including a family outing for her sons for the following weekend.

"There was no cause for concern."

Tom tried to contact his wife the following morning without success, Mr Fotheringham added.

He then travelled to the family home in Kent with his mother, Sue, and 23-month-old son Astala, arriving at around 1.30pm.

"Thomas entered the property and located Peaches in the spare bedroom," Mr Fotheringham said. It was apparent that she was dead.

"She was located on the edge of the bed with one leg hanging down to the floor and the other leg tucked underneath her. She was slumped across the bed," Mr Fotheringham said.

Tom called out to his mother and Phaedra was found in the property, and the emergency services were called.

Police and paramedics arrived and confirmed she was dead. Kent Police started an investigation but the death was "unexplained with no third party" involvement.

A post-mortem examination carried out by Dr Peter Jerreat at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford was inconclusive.

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Comments (2)

What an idiot. Everything going for her and then she kills herself just like her mum did. Zero intelligence. The apple never falls far from the sea. It's er kids I feel sorry for.

What an idiot. Everything going for her and then she kills herself just like her mum did. Zero intelligence.
The apple never falls far from the sea.
It's er kids I feel sorry for.Huey

What an idiot. Everything going for her and then she kills herself just like her mum did. Zero intelligence. The apple never falls far from the sea. It's er kids I feel sorry for.

Score: -2

Say It As It Is OK? says...5:15pm Thu 1 May 14

Sorry for the her children to lose their mother but she was a smack head and obviously was neither a good role model or a good mother if she took heroin. All the children can now hope for is that their father takes on the serious responsibility of bringing his children up properly and away from a drug abuse environment.

Sorry for the her children to lose their mother but she was a smack head and obviously was neither a good role model or a good mother if she took heroin. All the children can now hope for is that their father takes on the serious responsibility of bringing his children up properly and away from a drug abuse environment.Say It As It Is OK?

Sorry for the her children to lose their mother but she was a smack head and obviously was neither a good role model or a good mother if she took heroin. All the children can now hope for is that their father takes on the serious responsibility of bringing his children up properly and away from a drug abuse environment.

Score: 0

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